Poker chip dispenser



y 5, 1962 P. M. REILAND 3,034,517

POKER CHIP DISPENSER Filed July 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l m dz 111111111114 INVENTOR.

Pefer M Pei/and ATTORNEY May 15, 1962 Filed July 25, 1957 P. M. REILAND 3,034,517

POKER CHIP DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT Pefer' M Pei/an BY QGM mlQu g ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,034,517 POIGJR CHIP DISPENSER Peter M. Reiland, 1231 Blair Ave., St. Paul, Minn. Filed July 25, 1957, Ser. No. 674,165 6 Claims. (Cl. 1334) This invention relates to an improvement in poker chip dispensing devices and deals particularly with an apparatus for storing poker chips in superimposed relation and dispensing the chips from the storing device.

Chips of the type used in playing poker and other games are usually stored in a holder which is circular in plan and which is cut to provide a series of spaced apertures about the periphery of the holder which communicate with the exterior surface thereof through vertical slots. Each aperture is designed to hold perhaps 25 chips in superimposed relation. To remove the chips, at finger is inserted through the slot in the periphery of the holder beneath some or all of the chips in the pile and the chips engaged are raised and removed through the top of the aperture. Normally, the chips are then counted and a certain number of chips are given to each of the players.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a holder of somewhat similar design and which incorporates a dispensing mechanism at the lower end of the stacks of chips so that a predetermined number of chips may be simultaneously dispensed from the bottom of the stack. The arrangement may be such that a pre determined number of chips is dispensed from a selected stack or if preferred, chips may be simultaneously dispensed from all of the stacks in a manner to provide individual stacks of dispensed chips each of which contains an equal predetermined number.

A feature of one of the forms of my invention resides in the provision of a holder of the general type described mounted upon a base and including a rotatable disc supported beneath the holder. This disc is provided with a notch in its peripheral surface which may be registered with any of the apertures in the holder containing chips in superimposed relation. The rotatable disc is of proper thickness to permit a suitable number of chips, as for example chips, to drop from the stack into the notch in the rotatable plate. Means are provided which are operable by a continued rotation of the disc to slide the stack of dispensed chips outwardly on the base of the device so that they can be easily grasped. Poker chips are usually made in various colors, each color representing an individual value. The chips which represent a smaller value are usually dispensed in greater quantity than the chips representing a higher value. This may be accomplished with my poker chip dispensing device by providing in the holder a greater number of stacks of chips representing the smaller value. For example, if the white chips represent the least value, and if each player is to receive twice as many White chips as chips of another color, the holder may be arranged with two stacks of white chips for each single stack of chips of higher value. Thus, as the chips are dispensed, twice as many white chips will be dispensed as chips of the other colors.

ese and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specifications and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a poker chip dispenser showing the general arrangement thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view through the holder and dispenser illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on a horizontal plane through the dispenser, the position of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail of a portion of FIG- URE 3.

IGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view through a modi fied form of holder and dispenser.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view through the device shown in FIGURE 5, the position of the section being indicated by the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the structure shown'in FIGURE 5 The first form of poker chip holder and dispensers disclosed in the drawing is shown in FIGURES l to 4 thereof and is indicated in general by the letter A. The holder A includes a generally cylindrical holder body 10 having a series of angularly spaced vertical aperturesll extending downwardly into the body of the holder and completely through the body 10. The apertures 11 are of proper diameter to accommodate poker chips and the holder body is of sufiicient heighth so that a considerable number of chips may be supported in each aperture 11 in superimposed relation. Where chips of a difierent color represent difierent values, all of the chips of each stack are normally of the same color. Furthermore, as chips representing a lower value are often used in greater quantity than those representing a higher value, there are usually a greater number of stacks of chips representing the smaller value. As an example, if chips of three colors are used, and the white chips rep resent a value of 5 cents, red chips represent a value of 25 cents, and blue chips represent a value of $1.00, it may be desired to provide each player with 10 white chips for each five red chips and each five blue chips dispensed. To simplify the operation, the holder would then be provided with two stacks of white chips for each stack of red and blue chips.

As is indicated in the drawings, the chip receiving apertures 11 intersect the outer periphery 12 of the holders so as to provide vertical slots 13 communicating with each aperture 11. These slots 13 thus serve as a visual indication of the number of chips contained in each aperture and permit the chips to be inserted in flat superimposed relation.

As indicated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the holder includes a base 14 which is shown as circular in form and which is supported by suitable angularly spaced legs 15. The cylindrical holder body 10 is provided with an axial downwardly projecting cylindrical support or projection 16 which engages the upper surface of the base plate 14 and which is rotatable upon the upper surface thereof. A means is provided for pivotally supporting the projection 16 axially aligned with the base 14. In the construction illustrated, a vertical axial aperture 17 is provided in the base plate 14 and a wood screw 19 extends through a Washer 2i} and into the projection 16, the screw being rotatable with the projection and with the body 10 of the device. A table 21 is rotatably supported on the upper surface of the base plate 14- and is preferably connected to the projection 16 to operate or rotate in unison with the body ll of the holder. For example, the lower portion of the projection 16 may be square and may fit into a square opening 22 in the table 21. The purpose of rotating the body it; and the table 21 is to direct the chips dispensed toward the operator without lifting the device from its support. A dispensing disc 23 is rotatably supported for rotation about the projection 16, this disc 23 being preferably slightly spaced from the body of the holder 19 and from the table 21 by bearing rings 24 and 25. The lower surface of the dispenser body It is spaced from the upper surface of the table 21 a distance sufficient to accommodate a certain predetermined number of chips therebetween. For example, in the particular arrangement illustrated, this distance is just sufilcient to accommodate a stack of chips arranged in superimposed relation. -As is indicated in the drawings, the table 21 is provided with a series of shallow pockets 26 on its upper surface, these pockets being of proper diameter to accommodate a chip therein, and each pocket opening outwardly toward the periphery of the table 21 along a pair of generally parallel lines 27 which are at an acute angle to a radius through the center of the pocket. The pockets 26 are of a depth which is less than the thickness of one chip and serve only to guide the lowermost chip of a stack of chips toward the periphery of the table in a manher which will be later described in detail.

The dispensing disc 23 is provided with a notch in its periphery indicated in general by the numeral 29. The notch 29 includes a forward arcuate portion 30 of the same radius as the apertures 11 and axially aligned with each aperture in one rotative position of the disc. The notch 29 is provided along its rear edge with a tangentially inclined edge 31 which is generally in approximately right angular relation to the substantially parallel edges 27 of a pocket 26 which the notch overlies. The disc 23 may be rotated by any suitable means such as by an arm 32 extending radially from its periphery.

The poker chip dispenser A is operated by rotating the dispensing disc 23 in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawing until the notch 29 moves into register with one of the apertures 11. At this point the chips contained within the aperture drop down until the lowermost chip rests upon the table 21 in one of the pockets 26. When rotation of the disc 23 continues, the edge 31 of the notch 29 pushes the chips along the longer parallel edge 27 of the pocket 26, causing the chips to travel outwardly toward the outer marginal edge of the table 21. When the stack of chips extends partially over the edge of the table, the chips may be readily grasped and removed. Simultaneously with the outward movement of the chips, the solid portion of the disc 23 rearwardly of the notch 2-9 engages beneath the remaining chips in the aperture 11 so as to limit the number of chips being dispensed.

- FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings disclose another modified form of holder and dispenser. The dispenser C shown in these figures includes a body portion 37 which is generally similar to the body of the holder A and is provided with angularly spaced apertures 39 extending vertically therethrough near the periphery of the body and communicating with the periphery to provide slots 49 in the edge of the holder. The dispenser C is mounted upon a base plate 41 which is supported by suitable legs 42 to pivotally support the table upon the base. A wood screw 46 extends through a washer 47 and into the post 44 for holding the structure assembled.

The upper portion of the post 44above the table 43 is shown as being square in cross section and the body portion 37"is provided with an opening 49- extending vertically therethrough which is of suiiicient size to permit the post to rotate relative to the body 37. A dispensing disc 59 is provided with a square aperture 51 extending therethrough which is of proper size to accommodate the post 44 so that the dispenser plate 59 will be rotated by, and in unison with, the post. One or more dowels 52 connect the table 43 with the body portion 37 so that these two parts will rotate in unison, relative to the base 41.

As in the previous construction described, a bearing washer 53 is interposed between the base 41 and the table 43 and similar bearing washers 54 are provided above and below the dispensing disc 50. The purpose of these washers is merely to reduce friction, and to permit the parts to rotate more easily.

As in indicated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, the disc 5% is shown as having spaced notches 55 about its entire periphery. Thus, when the disc is turned to the proper position, all of the notches 55 will be in registry with all of the apertures 39 so that chips will drop from each of the apertures containing chips. Further rotation of the dispensing disc 50 will slide the chips outwardly so as to overhang the marginal edge of the table 43.

In the particular forms of construction disclosed, the table is shown as being of larger diameter than thebody portion 37 and of larger diameter than the dispensing disc. Actually, the diameter of the table may be reduced to equal that of the body portion if it is so desired. As the dispensing disc is rotated from dispensing position, the side of each notch in the dispensing disc tends to urge the stack of dispensed chips outwardly until they at least partially hang over the edge of the table. The chips will remain on the table even after they are pushed more than half way over the edge of the table as long as the opposite edge of the stack is engaged beneath the body portion of the holder. When in this position, the dispensed chips may be easily grasped and removed.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my poker chip dispenser, and while I have endeavored to illustrate the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

7 l. A poker chip dispenser including a cylindrical body, parallel apertures in angularly spaced relation about the periphery of the body and communicating with the periphery of the body through vertical slots therein, means engageable with a predetermined number of the lowermost chips in any of said apertures and urging said predetermined number outwardly beyond the periphery of said body while retaining the remaining chips in said cylindrical body, said means including a disc rotatably supported beneath said apertures and further including a single notch in the periphery of said disc selectively registrable with any or" said apertures.

2. A poker chip dispenser including a cylindrical body, a series of parallel apertures arranged in angularly spaced relation about the periphery of the body and communicating with the periphery of the body through vertical slots therein, a table having a pocket supported beneath said body and in spaced relation to the bottom thereof, and a dispensing disc supported between said table and said body and rotatable relative to said body and said table, said disc having a single notch in the periphery thereof registerable with each or" said apertures upon relative rotation of said disc, whereby a predetermined number of chips may drop from an aperture into the aligned notch in said disc to rest upon said table, said notch having aside which extends at an acute angle to a radius through the center of the pocket to slide the chips dropped in an outward direction from the center of rotation upon rotation of said disc.

3. The construction described in claim 2 and including means on said table for guiding the chips dropped into said notch toward the periphery of said table.

4. The construction described in claim 2 and in which said pocket includes oppositely diverging side edges cooperable with said notch side to guide said chips toward the periphery of said table upon rotation of said disc.

5. The construction described in claim 2 and including means for holding said table from rotation relative to said body.

6. The construction described in claim 2 and including a base upon which said table and body are rotatably supported.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cohen Jan. 10, 1899 King Nov. 27, 1923 Shield Mar. 10, 1931 Cochran Mar. 12, 1940 Cochran June 17, 1941 Emerson et a1 Nov. 29, 1949 Stewart June 26, 1951 Shaw July 23, 1952 Vollten Sept. 29, 1953 Wolfson Dec. 23, 1958 

